U.S. vs. Brazil - The U.S. team is even more dreadful then the refs

Blake here:

So as the game was going on I was taking the following notes:
* So Brazil gets a foul call on nothing and score off the resultant free kick. Another phantom foul is called at 10:00 minutes. Again the U.S. is playing against both the opponent and the ref. Meanwhile no fouls called on the other side when Donovan and Altidore are taken down. Its not that those are necessarily fouls, but if the ones against Brazil are called then those should be called too

*Why is Beasley in the game? An egregious giveaway on a corner, Brazil is off to the races and it is goal #2.

*Another harsh red card - clearly a yellow -but a red? And ESPN of course isn't even following the action and misses the issuance of the Red card completely. Can't ESPN send anyone to South Africa? After seeing when the card was giving, it is clear that the ref was influenced by the length of time the Brazilian player spent on the ground.

*3-0. The game is basically over and the U.S. is done in the Confederations Cup. The U.S. haven't really showed anything in this game - unlike the game against Italy. I don't really understand starting Beasley. He hasn't had a good game in ages and if you want to roll the dice, why not roll the dice with Adu or Feilhaber. I am not a fan really of either, but Beasley isn't the player he was 3 or 4 years ago before the knee injuries and the arguments against starting Adu (he can't get playing time or make the bench for his club team) apply equally right now to Beasley. But there is no one really on the bench besides those two that can offer creativity on offense.

*And where is Donovan in this game. Unlike the Italy game, Donovan has offered nothing all game long. As I say this he takes a free kick and it is too high. Can we please find someone who is good on free kicks?

*Dempsey taken down - no call. Clearly the refs in this tournament don't think the U.S. belong and they are not going to get any calls.

*Bornstein gets wiped out - foul but how is that not a card. The double standard gets clearer and clearer. They refs in the Italy game and this one are making the MLS refs look far less bad.

Now after sitting and stewing on this game for a few days and reading the various forums ripping the U.S. Men's team for a lack of heart and Bob Bradley for, well, everything, I have a few thoughts. What happens in the Italian game if Italy scores early on a bogus call? Does the U.S. team quit like it seemed to do against Brazil? Or did the bogus foul call which lead to a the goal just confirm to the U.S. players that they were once again playing 11 on 12? And were they just a bit intimidated by Brazil where they clearly weren't against Italy. Or perhaps it was giving up that early goal. In a way I think it was similar to what happened when the U.S. gave up the early goal to Costa Rica in Saprissa. In both cases, the U.S. has a history of futility and perhaps that was in the players minds. Going down a goal so early made the task perhaps seem insurmountable. And going down on a completely bogus foul call. Then Beasley has the dreadful giveaway - not just the giveaway but hanging his head. The U.S. were fortunate not to be down more then 2-0 going into the half.

So when the second half starts, the U.S. are looking better - they create some chances (Casey and Altidore work a nice give and go, but Altidore, just like the change he wasted against Italy, wastes this one as well. At least put the ball on frame. Then of course the harsh red to Kljestan and the game is basically over. With 10 minutes to go, the U.S. picks it's collective head up and his the crossbar twice, but by then, it is too little too late. Unless the players really start to believe they can come from a goal down against the world's best, they won't.

Again, I don't understand the substitution pattern or the starting eleven. Down 2-0 why not roll the dice with Adu? Yes he hasn't gotten off the bench for his club team, but he has proved in the youth world cup tournaments that he is able to step up in big competitions. Why start Beasley at all? How has he earned a start? And to all those who think Dempsey isn't trying or didn't try till the end, those of us who watched him play for the New England Revolution know this. He may disappear for awhile, but the guy always generates scoring opportunities in the game. He also played well in defense heading a number of corners and frees kicks out of danger from his own penalty area. Yes, I am biased, but Dempsey is the only player on the U.S. Men's team who has scored a brace against Chelsea. Something Robinho can't say and something I don't think anyone on either Brazil or Italy can say (which isn't quite fair as they rarely play against Chelsea - but still).

Thanks to Egypt (who the U.S. team plays next) there is still the slimmest mathematical chance the U.S. can advance. Brazil needs to beat Italy by 3 or 4 goals and we need to beat Egypt by 3 or 4 goals and we would advance on goal differential. A slim change to be sure and I would be happy with a win of any kind. Egypt is clearly a very good team having played Brazil to a standstill and beaten Italy.